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I’d finally rolled myself out of bed for the second time that morning, cleaned up, applied a thin layer of the Elidel steroid cream that Dr. Hamilton prescribed me to the itchy, red rash on my face. Once it had dried, I did my best to cover it up with a light concealer and foundation. Not that I was fooling anyone at that point, but a girl could try to look better, and maybe keep the questions at bay. After I was done working my cosmetic magic, I headed toward the kitchen, following the sound of Gyth and Alley’s voices, chatting away.
The smell of bacon hit my nostrils and I hadn’t cared if I was still horrified at myself earlier, because hello, it was bacon. Anyone who knows me well would know I’d do just about anything for bacon.
I’m not ashamed to admit it either.
I was still laughing at the absurdity of my reaction to a food item when I walked into the kitchen.
“You owe me twenty bucks,” Alley said, throwing out her hand palm up toward Gyth.
Pulling out his wallet, Gyth fished a twenty out and slammed it into her hand, smiling at me as he did.
“What the hell, you’re supposed to be my friend and you are betting on me?” I turned to look at Alley as I addressed her, giving her my best glare.
She just smiled and said, “It was hard to pass up making an easy twenty bucks when I knew the bacon would bring you running.” Then the smile disappeared as she studied me closely and I knew that covering up the rash wasn’t going to hold Alley back from asking questions later.
“For your information, I didn’t run, I walked, so there,” I told her, sticking out my tongue. “Now at least give me some damn bacon.”
“Like I said, the girl adores her bacon,” Alley commented looking back toward Gyth.
The smile on his face shouldn’t have been so freaking charming, but God I loved his smile. Even behind his facial hair, it stood out and made my belly go pitter-patter.
Then the next thing I knew Gyth had set a plateful of bacon, eggs, and hash browns down in front of me. I wasn’t going to be able to eat it all, but I was definitely eating the bacon.
As I slowly dove in, testing the water a bit to see how my stomach would handle the food, I hadn’t been paying attention as they’d carried on their conversation, until I heard Alley ask Gyth how the weekend had gone.
My head snapped up, and I gave him a lethal look. He’d promised me, even though he wasn’t okay with it, that he wouldn’t tell anyone about my hospital time, being sick, or needing to go to see a specialist. I just hoped I could trust him to keep the promise he’d made.
And in the end, he had.
We worked our way through the conversation, without talking about the big points for both me and him. Next weekend was our outing for Jurnee in lieu of having a big baby shower, because that’s what she wanted, and I didn’t want anything messing up the plan.
I’d already done that for her wedding.
Jurnee wanted our girls' day like we try to do every so often to be her baby shower. Only we’d be adding her mom, Embry, and Gemma this time. Alley and I were planning the day and I wanted it to be as special as possible for her.
So after telling Gyth how I felt, he reluctantly agreed for my sake and for Jurnee to let me tell them after the weekend was over.
Breakfast had ended and Gyth had announced he should get going. Without being able to mask it, a look of disappointment crossed my face that I was sure not only he, but Alley had witnessed.
My damn walls are falling like dominos.
When Gyth grabbed his stuff and was heading to the door, Alley magically made herself scarce. Following behind to walk him out, because it was the polite thing to do, my nerves were getting to me.
I wasn’t sure how to act or what I was supposed to say, especially after earlier. But I wanted to thank him at least. I’d also noticed he was limping during breakfast and I felt like a complete ass that his leg was bothering him. I was supposed to help him with that over the weekend but instead, he’d run himself ragged helping me.
“Your leg is hurting and it’s my fault. You have been helping me too much.”
“Summer, I’m fine. Don’t sweat it, really. I will probably always have days here and there when it’s worse, that’s the reality of my life. But I’m not going to let it stop me, even if it pisses me off sometimes.”
Gyth was so damn strong. I wanted to be just like him somehow. I let it go because I know he hates being fussed over and changed the course of the conversation.
“Thanks for keeping your promise,” I whispered.
“I said I would, but it’s only until after next weekend, then you need to talk to the girls, Sunshine.”
“I know, I will.”
This time he asked me for that promise and I agreed. He was beginning to be a hard man to say no to at all.
